From Passion to Success: How Your Child Can ‘Make It’ in Canada’s Thriving Creative Industries

I get it. As a dad of two teens, I know firsthand how tough it can sometimes be to throw your full support behind your children’s goals, especially when those passions are more creatively inclined. You want your young creatives to be happy and follow their dreams, of course, but you also want them to make practical post-secondary school plans for a secure future.

Here’s the good news for all you parents of aspiring actors, directors, screenwriters, and video game and graphic designers: Canada’s creative industries present real and exciting career paths. This country’s rapidly growing film, television, and video game sectors are thriving, offering a wealth of lucrative opportunities to those brave enough to chase their bold aspirations.

Despite growing up in a family rooted in academia, I made the leap into the creative industries nearly 25 years ago—and it paid off. An Emmy, a Golden Globe, six Canadian Screen Awards, and three hit shows (Schitt’s Creek, Jann and Son of a Critch) later, I can confidently say becoming an executive producer was the best decision I ever made.

Now, as president of Toronto Film School, it brings me great joy to help creative teens like yours follow a similar path after high school. By combining their passion with our expert training, our programs help students build the skills and confidence to pursue creative careers.

Canada’s booming film and television industries

Canada’s screen sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, and it’s anchored in Toronto, the heart of the film scene. Toronto alone accounts for about two-thirds of Ontario’s production spending, and the city continues to attract top-tier studios, state-of-the-art soundstages, and significant foreign investment. According to ACTRA, more than 35,000 jobs in Toronto are tied to film, TV, and digital media production—and that number is set to rise as production continues to boom.

National numbers from the Canadian Media Producers Association are even more impressive. In 2023-2024 alone, Canada’s media production sector generated more than 179,000 jobs and $9.58 billion in production volume and contributed $11.04 billion to Canada’s GDP.

These numbers tell a clear story: careers in the creative industries are not just viable—they are essential to Canada’s economy.

Expanding careers in video games

Canada has also become a global hub for video game design and production. The country is home to many major players in the gaming world, including Ubisoft, EA, and BioWare—all of which are driving demand for highly skilled game developers, animators, and designers. That need for talent just keeps rising, offering more jobs, better salaries, and a real chance to succeed.

In fact, Canada’s 821 video game studios generated more than $5.1 billion in revenue in 2024, employing over 34,000 people, making an average of $102,000 per year, according to a recent report from Nordicity and the Entertainment Software Association of Canada.

Training the next generation

At Toronto Film School, we help students channel their creativity into practical, industry-relevant skills. Whether your young adult is interested in film production, acting, screenwriting, graphic design, or video game development or animation, we provide hands-on training that’s tailored to today’s modern creative job market. Our programs are taught by industry professionals who bring real-world experience to the classroom, equipping students with the skills they need to launch their careers. From technical expertise to industry connections, Toronto Film School gives students the tools to thrive in this fast-paced, growing industry.

The creative sector is thriving—and now is the perfect time for your teen to join it.